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ELECTORAL REGISTRATION

The Register of Electors

• The Register of Electors is a list of names and addresses of those who are qualified to vote at different elections and referendums.

• It is updated and re-published annually on 1st December after the annual household canvass.

• After the new Register of Electors has been produced for the year it is updated monthly from January - November.

• By law the Electoral Registration Officer must produce two versions of the register: The Electoral Register and The Open Register.

 

Registering to Vote

• You can register to vote any time online at: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
  
  
• You will need your National Insurance Number and Date of Birth to complete an application.
  
  
• If you have lost your National Insurance Number you can phone the National Insurance helpline on: 0300 200 3500. They will not provide your details over the phone but they will post them to you.
  
  
• It only takes a couple of minutes to complete an online application.
  
  
• If you live in Orkney, you can call 01856 876222 to get through to a member of the Electoral Registration Team in the Orkney Electoral Registration Office to help you with this process.
  
  
• If you live in Shetland, you can call 01595 745700 to get through to a member of the Electoral Registration Team in the Shetland Electoral Registration Office to help you with this process.

 

How do I check if I am registered to vote?

• You cannot check online to see if you are registered to vote - the Register of Electors for each area is not published online.

• To find out if you are registered in Orkney you can call 01856 876222 to get through to a member of the Electoral Registration Team in Orkney.

• To find out if you are registered in Shetland you can call 01595 745700 to get through to a member of the Electoral Registration Team in Shetland.

 

Am I eligible to vote?

• You can register if you are aged 14 years or over for the address at which you currently reside - this is your permanent place of residence, not a temporary place of residence such as a second home or holiday home and you are:

• a British, Irish or EU Citizen
• a qualifying Commonwealth citizen who has leave to enter or remain in the UK or who doesn’t require such leave
• a qualifying foreign national who has leave to enter or remain in the UK or who does not require such leave


• Registered voters can vote in Scottish Parliamentary and Local Government elections when they are 16 years old. When a registered voter is 18 years of age they can vote at UK Parliamentary elections if they are a British or Commonwealth citizen. Registered voters who are not a British or Commonwealth citizen are not entitled to vote at UK Parliamentary elections

• More information available at: https://www.yourvotematters.co.uk/can-i-vote/who-can-register-to-vote

 

Special Category Electors

Please click on the below links to get more information about the following:

• Overseas Voters (British Citizens living overseas) https://www.yourvotematters.co.uk/can-i-vote/overseas

• Armed Forces (Service Voters) https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote-armed-forces

• People with no fixed address https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-to-vote-if-you-havent-got-a-fixed-or-permanent-address

• Anonymous Registration https://www.yourvotematters.co.uk/register-to-vote/register-to-vote-anonymously

 

Absent Voting

•  If you are unable to vote at the polling station in person (for example, due to your work schedule or being away from home), you can apply to vote by post or appoint someone you trust to vote on your behalf (voting by proxy)
  
  
•  For further guidance, please visit electoralcommission.org.uk

   HOW DO I APPLY TO VOTE BY POST?

  The process for applying for a postal vote in Scotland depends on the type of election.

• To apply to vote by post at all elections – download, print and complete an application to vote by post in Scotland (PDF)
  
  
•  For UK Parliament elections only – either apply online at GOV.uk or download, print and complete an application to vote by post at UK Parliament elections (PDF)
  
  
•  For Scottish Parliament and local council elections only, download, print and complete an application to vote by post in Scottish Parliament elections (PDF)
  
  
• Return completed applications to your local Electoral Registration Office.
•  If you are unable to apply online, paper application forms are available from your local Electoral Registration Office .

Please Note That:

• You can choose to apply for a postal vote for a particular election, a set period of time, or all elections you are eligible to vote in.
  
  
• You would need to complete a new postal vote application if you have moved house or changed your name.
  
  
• The postal ballot paper(s) will not be issued immediately on receipt of your application and may be sent to you less than a week before an election
  
  
• You must be registered to vote before you can apply to vote by post
  
  

  How Long Does My Postal Vote Last?

• For UK Parliament elections, a postal vote can last no more than three years before you need to reapply.
  
  
•  For Scottish Parliament and local council elections, you can have a postal vote for an indefinite period, but we will contact you to refresh your signature after five years
  
  

  How Do I Apply To Vote By Proxy?

• The process for applying for a proxy vote in Scotland depends on whether you are applying for a particular election or a permanent/long-term proxy vote.
  
  
• For a single UK Parliament election – either apply online at GOV.uk or download, print and complete an application to apply for a proxy vote for a particular election.
  
•  For a single Scottish Parliament and local council election or for long term vote for all elections – download, print and complete application forms to vote by proxy:
  
  
•   If you are unable to apply online, paper application forms are available from your local Electoral Registration Office
  
  

  Please Note That:

• You and your proxy must be registered to vote before you can apply for a proxy vote
  
  

 

Voter ID Requirement

• Voters in Scotland need to show photo ID to vote at polling places in some elections. This applies to UK parliamentary elections only (including general elections, by-elections and recall petitions.

•  If you don't have accepted photo ID, you can apply for a free voter ID document, which is known as a Voter Authority Certificate.

•  If you are unable to apply online, paper application forms are available from your local Electoral Registration Office .

•  Additional information and guidance as to acceptable forms of ID can be found here.

 

Annual Canvass

• Every year it is mandatory for the Electoral Registration Officer to conduct a household canvass in their area to update the information on the Electoral Register.

• Household Enquiry Forms are sent to all households to request up-to-date information and they must be completed.

• This normally takes place between July - November.

• All information gathered is used to publish the annual revised register.This is usually published on 1st December.

 

Change of Name

If your name has changed since you registered you can change your details by completing a Change of Name Form which you can download, print off, complete and return to the relevant office address stated below.

For further information: